Learning Resources also has this great healthy eating pretend play set on sale!!

• Never leave your epi pen in the car! 
• Keep your epi pen out of direct sunlight
• Use a light colored and/or insulated bag/carrying case. Darker colors retain more heat. Can't find a light colored medication case? That is okay! Many are insulated, despite being designed to be eye catching (i.e. red colored) for safety. Not insulated? Store it in a regular light colored bag, or just keep the medication case out of direct sunlight (see the final bullet point for why this is okay).
• NEVER PUT YOUR EPI PEN ON ICE! While it may seem like a good way to keep the medication cool, epi should be stored at room temperature. Ice may damage the medication. 
• Your epinepherine/epi pen CAN ENDURE ESCURSIONS ABOVE AND BELOW ROOM TEMPERATURE FOR SHORT PERIODS OF TIME. That means you should ALWAYS BRING YOUR EPI PEN WITH YOU, regardless of temperature, the kind of carrying case you have, etc. Epi pens are only helpful if you have them in the middle of an emergency, and will be fine in the heat if you bring them with you on a hot summer day*. 

*Always refers to the medication guide for specifics about how to care for your epipen. If you have questions, speak to your doctor or pharmacist. 

When traveling or going to a social gathering (such as a BBQ), make sure you will have access to safe food. Bringing your own food to parties helps avoid cross contact at high risk areas (such as a grill). If you are traveling, stay in a hotel with a mini fridge, or better yet, rent a cottage or apartment with a kitchenette/kitchen. This will help ensure you have safe food in the event that local restaurants (or family/friends) are unable to accommodate your allergy needs.

Going for a day trip to the beach, lake, or other outdoor destination? Bring a picnic lunch, and plenty of safe snacks. This is not only a great way to accommodate food allergies, but also cost effective, and fun! Going to a theme park, or similar attraction? Speak with your doctor to obtain an accommodation letter in advance, as many destinations do not allow outside food or water. Some parks even have disability accommodation teams (Disney parks are famous for theirs); if the one you are planning to attend does, be sure to contact them in advance. 

How can you find an allergy friendly restaurant while on vacation? 
Check out Allergy Eats and the Dining Out With Food Allergies Facebook Group; my family has used both resources, and found them super helpful. 

YETI Cooler

Luxury Bathtub Pillow (Read my review here)

ZenTyme Moments Shower Steamers Aromatherapy Gift

Essie Nail Polish and Nail Care Products

Alexander Del Rossa Women's Plush Fleece Robe

Bath Gift Basket Set for Women

Ultimate Aromatherapy Diffuser & Essential Oil Set 

Spa Gift Basket - Bath and Body Works Cherry Rose Scent

Sweetzer & Orange Large Woven Cotton Rope Storage Basket (Vegan Handles)

Rectangle Storage Basket with Handles

Stonebriar Farmhouse Metal Chicken Wire Picnic Basket with Hinged Lids, Handles, and Heart Detail, 10.5" x 6.5", Cream

Name Necklace (mother's day necklace)

Personalized Birthstone Necklace

Name Necklace (Great for Grandmothers or Moms)

Personalized Date Art

Personalized Daughter and Mom

Custom Wall Clock (this is very similar to the clock that I have over my mantle in that it is also farmhouse style; mine isn't personalized, but was a mother's day gift!)

​Little hands love gardening! My family spends a lot of time planting and tending our garden beds (veggies and flowers), and my toddler enjoys helping by going to the store and picking out plants, scooping dirt, putting seeds in the ground, and patting dirt once things are in the ground. Older children can help put flowers in the ground, weed, prune, and more. What makes gardening even more exciting is that it can be used as part of an educational unit. Talking about the life cycle of a plant, agriculture/farm life, parts of plants, and native plant species/environment are all ways to expand on gardening in an educational manner. 

Water keeps my child occupied for hours on warm, sunny days. We play in many ways. Here are some ideas to get you started!

• Washing toys: soapy water in a bowl or a plastic storage tote and some water friendly toys are all you need for this activity! Make it even more fun by allowing your child to get their toys dirty (finger paint works great for this), and then wash them using a tooth brush. Once clean, dry them with a hand towel or spare rag!
• Water tables: Water tables come with everything you need for toddler and preschool water play! 
• Sprinklers: Where I live, we can start getting summery weather as early as March, and weather warm enough to play in the sprinkler more regularly by mid-May. With so many great sprinklers on the market, you can find something for every age.
• Watering plants: Have a child who loves gardening and helping with chores? My little one certainly does! Watering plants is a great way to do some water play while knocking something off your to do list, too!
• Paint with water: This activity is great because you don’t need to clean anything off your deck, walls, or driveway. A bit of water and a large paint brush are enough to keep many toddlers engaged for quite a while!

​There are no shortage of great DIY chalk and paint projects online (check here, here, and here for a few options, or check out my Pinterest account for tons more). Or, just buy some ready made at the store! We love doing ice painting and using spray bottles with water and food coloring to create fun projects outdoors. Store bought chalk is also a family favorite! We also move our regular art projects outside, too; it means less mess in my kitchen!! 

​My community has an excess of amazing, family friendly hiking trails. Use the opportunity to do a nature scavenger hunt (you can download the one shown here on my exclusive resource library), listen for different types of bird calls, collect interesting rocks/flowers/leaves to bring home and analyze (please make sure not to harm the plant if you are picking anything, and do not remove flora from areas designated as sanctuaries or preserves!), take pictures to document and create collages/presentations/research back home, or just enjoy the fresh air!

During the nicer months, my family eats many of our meals outside! Bring a blanket, pack a lunch, and go on a picnic at your local park, or in your backyard! Some great picnic foods you might want to bring along (depending on allergies) are:

Outdoor movie nights have never been easier than they are now that WiFi, tablets, smart phones, and laptops are ubiquitous. My family loves lighting a fire in the firepit, grabbing some snacks, and setting up our tablet to watch movies under the stars. Many communities, ours included, also have public outdoor movie nights (many are even free!). Or, splurge on an outdoor projector system or waterproof TV! 

​You don’t need fancy equipment to design an obstacle course in your back yard! Just grab some cardboard boxes, twine, outdoor pillows, hula hoops, chalk (to draw obstacles such as hopscotch or mazes) outdoor furniture, rocks, or other materials and let your imagination guide you! If your family is competitive, break into teams and do a relay. Or, just spend time having low stakes fun. There are also lots of equipment options on the market that you can use if this is an activity you find your family doing a lot, or if you have a family member who also uses the equipment for training or therapeutic purposes.